Southern California -- this just in

Occupy Oakland: Mayor lays out 'ground rules' for protesters

October 27, 2011 | 9:57
pm

Oakland Mayor Jean Quan, after saying she would attend a meeting with Occupy Oakland supporters, failed to show up and instead issued a statement Thursday night laying out "ground rules" for peaceful demonstrations.

Quan said demonstrators needed to have direct communication with city officials, maintain healthy and safe conditions at protest sites, allow rescue personnel to enter areas if problems arise and not camp overnight on public property.

On Thursday night, a number of tents had sprouted up at the City Hall plaza area as protesters began reconstructing their encampment, which was shut down early Tuesday by police.

Quan issued her statement as hundreds of people gathered downtown for a candlelight vigil for Scott Olsen, 24. The former Marine, who served two tours in Iraq, was seriously injured when he was struck in the head by a projectile Tuesday night during violent clashes between police and Occupy Oakland supporters.

Olsen was being treated at Oakland's Highland Hospital, where his condition was upgraded Thursday from critical to fair. He was visited by Quan, who said she was sorry for what had happened and that the incident would be investigated, according to Bay Area media reports.

Quan and other top city officials have been criticized for their handling of the Occupied Oakland movement. Quan initially supported the protest but then said she agreed to allow police to shut down the encampment, which triggered the confrontation in which officers fired repeated tear gas rounds into throngs of protesters.